Speaking at a Republicans for Environmental Protection event in Washington on Thursday, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman talked of the need for energy independence to be the major focus of a national energy policy and said that America needs to end its ‘heroin-like addiction’ to foreign oil.
“We have a huge opportunity in the years ahead to make energy independence a centerpiece issue in this country.”
Huntsman also spoke of the country’s need to develop alternative-fuel vehicles and fund energy technology research. Huntsman, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the presidency, served as governor of Utah from 2005 to 2009 and ambassador to China from 2009 until he resigned in February.
Writing for The Hill, Andrew Restuccia reports that Huntsman focused on “broad-brush energy policy issues. He argued that states are “incubators” of good energy policy, touting Utah’s advancements in natural-gas vehicle technology during his time as governor.
Huntsman also made a point of proclaiming himself to be a staunch advocate of sound environmental policies:
“Conservation is conservative. I’m not ashamed of being a conservationist.”
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